With an off-season investment average of $1.5 million per vessel, the Lakers Carriers' Association tells why maintaining and modernizing U.S.-Flag Lakers is good for the economy, the environment and the longevity of the fleet. CLEVELAND—More than 1,200 boilermakers, welders, electricians and other skilled craftsmen will be hard at work this winter maintaining and … [Read more...]
U.S.-Flag Lakers’ Cargo Up 3.2 Percent in October
CLEVELAND—U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (“lakers”) carried 9.8 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in October, a weather-driven decrease of 3 percent compared to September, but an increase of 3.2 percent compared to a year ago. The October float was 5 percent below the month's 5-year average, but the decrease partially reflects the significant weather-related … [Read more...]
U.S.-Flag Lakers Move An Extra 470,000 Tons of Cargo in January
CLEVELAND—U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (“lakers”) carried 3.4 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in January, an increase of 46 percent over a year ago. The January float was also 18 percent better than the month's 5-year average. One reason the fleet performed so strongly was demand for iron ore necessitated extending the season through the locks at Sault … [Read more...]
U.S.-Flag Laker Cargos Up 33.4 Percent in 2010
CLEVELAND—U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (“lakers”) carried 88.7 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in 2010, an increase of 33.4 percent over 2009. Shipments were, however, nearly 10 percent off the industry's 5-year average, a fact that reinforces that the U.S. economy has yet to fully recover from the recession. The largest increase came in iron ore cargos … [Read more...]